Anthropologist To Shed Light On Vampires At Talk At Burlington Library

Just for Fun

November 18, 1994|By MICHAEL GREENWOOD; Courant Staff Writer

Let's talk vampires.

The fanged bloodsuckers of fable and folklore will be the topic of conversation Monday when an anthropologist from the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Washington, D.C., appears at the Burlington Public Library.

Paul Sledzik, who has family in Burlington, will discuss the possibility that an early medical folk practice led to a belief among some that vampires were stalking 19th- century New England.

Sledzik will show slides and discuss his research into the phenomenon. The lecture will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

The vampire program is not recommended for children.

The talk coincides with the release of the film, ``Interview With the Vampire,'' a movie based on a book of the same title by Anne Rice. The book and others written by the author have been popular among the library's patrons, said Anne Walluk, the library director. ``Readers ask for them all the time,'' she said.

The program will begin at 7:30 p.m. and is free. It will be held in the community room of the recently refurbished library on 34 Library Lane off Route 4. Call the library at 673-3331 for more information.

Garlic is optional.

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Attention musicians.

Anyone with reasonable command of a brass instrument is invited to join the Salisbury Band Christmas Brass and Hot Chocolate Society on Monday as it begins preparations for the Christmas caroling season.

Instruments consist of trumpets, cornets, French horns, baritone horns, trombones and tubas. Last year 22 musicians, ranging in age from 11 to 74, participated.

The band accompanies outdoor carol sings and community functions in December. This year's season will begin with a a carol sing and tree lighting at the Christmas tree on the Kent town green Dec. 3. They will appear in Canaan and Salisbury the following day.

Other band performances scheduled include Cornwall, Torrington and Millerton, N.Y.

The band will rehearse Monday and Nov. 29 at the Scoville Memorial Library in Salisbury in preparation for the outdoor performances. The rehearsals will run from 7:15 to 9 p.m.

The show, which will be performed by local actors as well as several from New York, will be performed Nov. 25, 26, 27 and again on Dec. 2 and 3. All shows will begin at 8 p.m. in the Coe Memorial Park Building on New Litchfield Street.

The play depicts the last seven days of the life of Jesus Christ. Music for the show was originally written by Andrew Lloyd Weber with lyrics by Tim Rice.

Tickets can be purchased at Bookworks in Torrington and The Corner Bookstore in Winsted. General admission tickets are $8. Senior citizens will be charged $7.

Tickets can also be reserved by calling 496-8612. Reservations are recommended because seating is limited.

For more information on the performance, call 379-4718.

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Christmas season -- country style -- will be kicked off Nov. 27 with a country band at the Center Congregational Church, 55 Main St., Torrington.

Robin Barnes & Cactus Rose will perform country music, including carols, when the show begins at 6 p.m.

Call 489-8301 for more information. Donations will benefit the needy.

Just for Fun appears Fridays in the Courant's Town News section. To have an event listed, send information to The Courant's Torrington News Bureau, 32 City Hall Ave., Torrington, 06790, or fax it to 489-1385.